STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior tennis player Nuno Borges calls it “one last ride.”
Senior teammate Trevor Forshey sums it up as “the last chance.”
Whatever it is called, the No. 3 MSU men’s tennis team plans to make the 2019 season special.
Coming off the program’s best season in 20 years, expectations are high as MSU takes the court this weekend in the ITA Kick-Off Classic at the Pitts Tennis Centre. MSU will face Wichita State at 1 p.m. Saturday. It will face Arizona or UNC Wilmington in the event’s second round Sunday.
“This group of seniors has been together the entire time,” Borges said. “You don’t find that in college tennis often. We have roomed together, studied together, gone out together, and played tennis together. It has been an amazing experience.”
A two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year, Borges has established himself as one of the nation’s best players.
“Just as humble as the first day I met him,” Forshey said. “You would never know how great a player he is. He works on his game all the time. He is also out there spending those extra hours with the new guys. Heck, I am a senior and I am still learning from him. It’s just been great watching him play and being there for some of the great moments.”
Borges enters his final collegiate season with an 89-21 record in singles and 48-33 record in doubles. He will again assume the No. 1 position for the Bulldogs.
A year ago, the Bulldogs finished 23-3 (11-1 in SEC). MSU beat Texas A&M for the SEC tournament championship. The season ended with a loss to Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. It was the program’s best finish since it reached the semifinals in 1998.
This season, MSU earned a No. 3 ranking in the preseason after finishing No. 5 a year ago.
“The biggest thing we have been stressing to our guys is that last year does not matter,” MSU fifth-year coach Matt Roberts said. “Experience is a good thing. All coaches will take it. However, we have stressed it’s a new year with new opportunity. That starts this weekend with two very good opponents.”
Roberts said newcomers Stedman Strickland and Gregor Ramskogler have impressed. Niclaus Braun and Strahinja Rakic are the other seniors.
“We are approaching this season like a total re-set,” Forshey said. “However, it is important that we have played so many big matches. That experience is important. When we face some adversity, we have been all there before. That’s a good thing. It will help us.”
Borges said the offseason has been hectic but not out of the ordinary.
“Everybody on this team loves the game,” Borges said. “It’s not getting better at this or getting better at that. It’s just been all about playing tennis. We play a lot, like all the time. It’s an escape, but it’s a passion, too. For the seniors, we have done this forever together, so we want to go out with a bang.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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